Train Travel Florence to Rome and Florence to Pompeii

The BEST way is to sleep in Rome, and sleep in Sorrento (or somewhere else near) for Pompeii. I'm using my iTouch right now, so I'd have to double-check later on this (if I don't want to lose what I've typed so far), but I believe I just looked up schedules for Florence to Naples that were 2(?)-hour long trains...

This is a tough day trip from Florence. Your train travel alone will take 7.0+hrs round trip. First, you take the high-speed from Florence to Naples. That's 3.0hrs with a fare of 72E ($100) per person each way. At Naples, you go downstairs and catch the Circumvesuviana train to the Pompei Scavi stop. It takes about 30 minutes to get there. The fare is 3E-4E - really cheap.

Thanks, for the info, unfortunatly, we all ready have the hotel reservations. Do you know how much it would cost and how long it would take to rent a car and drive it instead of taking the train?

Florence to Rome is a good 2 to 2.5 hours by train if I recall; I don't know how far beyond Rome Naples is, but you could easily find out by checking the trenitalia site (or Rick's "Italy" guide). It sounds like a lot of train travel for day trips to me, and Rome has SO much to see. Can you shorten your Florence stay and spend a few nights in Rome? I changed my Venice reservation after I'd made it with only a week's notice and was not penalized at all since we hadn't paid for it yet and were within their cancellation policy timeframe.

Lisa:
How long will you be in Italy and when? How many days each in Venice and Florence? After Venice and Florence I would opt for some non-city time: Lake Como or the Cinque Terre. Might be better to cover the north and save Rome and points south for "next time" lest you exhaust yourselves with a 20 hour day to Pompeii from Florence. Just my humble thoughts....

I suggest you use your Florence time to concentrate on Tuscany and nearby environs, and save Rome and Naples for when you can base in that part of the country and do it properly. It would be like taking a day trip to Philadelphia from Portland ME.

Ah, Nigel, way to put it in perspective!

I took two separate day trips from Rome. One day to Florence and another day to Naples & Pompeii. From Rome to Florence for me was 1:35, and from Rome to Naples it took 1:10 on the fast trains. It was still another 20-30 minutes from Naples to Pompeii Scavi. The trips back to Rome at night took longer. If you are locked into staying in Florence, making a day trip Rome is feasible, but Rome isn't very compact, and I can't imagine even seeing the highlights in one day very easily. I would skip a day trip to Naples and Pompeii from Florence. It's just too great a distance to spend much quality time at your destination.

how long it would take to rent a car and drive it instead of taking the train? Much longer. Much more expensive, too. Here's why: 1) If you rent downtown in Florence you will have to deal with ZTLs (search on this website) and their €100 fines. 2) You will need an IDP for anyone who is driving (search on this website) 3) Tolls on the autostrada. Tolls coming back, too. 4) Slow traffic on the autostrada. Not always - but when it does, it really does. 5) The Neapolitan effect and mindset of drivers (search on this forum). 6) Without stopping for food, toilets, or rest, the 488 km will take you at least 5 hours each way. Figure an average of at least 1 hour per 100km. 7) You're going to park on the street in the Naples suburb of Pompeii? Better you than me. And I'm used to driving in southern Italy. 8) You're going to try to park on the street in Rome? Better you than me. 9) Unless you try a garage. Maybe OK, but the train is way faster and cheaper. Watch out for those ZTLs and their €100 fines. (see number 1 above) 10) Hope you have that GPS. Or take a crash course in Italian navigation. (crash - get it?) It can be done, Lisa, but I seriously don't think you will do yourself any favours. Don't forget that somebody will have 10+ hours behind the wheel that day. You won't have much time (or energy) left for sightseeing.

Lisa, you wouldn't be the first person to keep their hotel in Florence while actually spending the night elsewhere on an overnighter... Larry's correct - it's exactly 3 hours and he gives you the price (although once there, you 'might' be able to get a discount fare...but don't hold your breath). PLUS the connection to the Circumvesuviana train to Pompeii. It's 1 1/2 hours+ (depending on train) b/n Florence and Rome, and €45,00 each way. Doable, I suppose. But, you did ask us the BEST way. (or, even the sane way LOL) It's cheaper to get a room in Rome for a night ON TOP OF your hotel in Florence; you'd save €117+ per person NOT going back-and-forth! Pack a tiny overnight bag/daybag, leave at the crack of dawn (or earlier), and go straight to Pompeii. Then leave Pompeii to spend the night in Rome. Have dinner there, and do as much as possible the next day until time to return to Florence. I'm exhausted LOL!

OK, I give. This plan is not realistic. Thanks for all the info. I think I am going to look at some hotels in Rome for a night. As you said it would actually be cheaper if we decide we really want to go to Pompeii. We'll make the call when we are actually in Italy so we can see how we are feeling about it then but I'm the research girl so I want to have a plan.

I know you say you have rooms already booked, but given enough notice can't you cancel some nights?